What happened?
On 17 August, Pakistan's Prime Minister Imran Khan declared that the Afghans had "broken the shackles of slavery" in a war-torn country. He believes that the withdrawal was a "logical solution." Roofi Hasan, who is the Prime Minister's special assistant, took to Twitter to state that Ashraf Ghani's "corrupt" government rule was a "virtually smooth shift" to the Taliban. Many retired and serving generals are thrilled that Pakistan will finally have "friends" in the driving seat in Kabul, and have expressed admiration openly for the Taliban.

On 20 August, Pakistan's army and the Taliban held a "meet and greet" at the border areas. One of the Pakistani soldiers was also seen taking a selfie with one of the Taliban. The friendly act came after Islamabad released terrorist Mullah Mohammad Rasool, the leader of a splinter faction of the Taliban. He spent around five years in Pakistan prison and was freed days after the collapse of the Ashraf Ghani administration. On the same day, Imran Khan urged his ministers to refrain from commenting on the Taliban takeover as it is a "sensitive matter."

On 21 August, reports suggested, Pakistan's Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi is likely to visit Kabul on 22 August 2021. Pakistan is determined to play a "positive role" and their envoy in Afghanistan said in a statement, that he is also in touch with different Afghan personalities.

What is the background?
First, Pakistan's Taliban history. The Taliban emerged as an armed group in Pakistan. Many of its members had studied in the religious schools in Pakistan. Islamabad was also one of the three capitals, alongside Saudi Arabia and the UAE to formally recognize the Taliban in the 1990s. During the last two decades, successive American military leadership fighting the war in Afghanistan complained about Pakistan playing a double role with the latter continuing to support the Taliban.

Second, Pakistan's recent engagements. Pakistan was a part of the Doha dialogue, the 'extended Troika for Afghan peace' to discuss the Taliban takeover and its implications, and the Afghan Quadrilateral dialogue, along with China, Russia and the US. The US was dependent on Pakistan to get the Taliban on board, and its Afghan envoy Zalmay Khalilzad made multiple visits to Islamabad. Pakistan used its Taliban linkages, to present itself as a vital cog in the Doha dialogue process. Islamabad has been providing the Taliban shelter and a resource base in its territory even as the world expected it to put pressure on the Taliban to arrive at a negotiated political power-sharing deal with Ghani's government. 

Third, Pakistan's friction and lukewarm relations with Ashraf Ghani's government. Ever since the fall of the Taliban government in 2001, administrations in Afghanistan have publicly chastised Pakistan for backing the Taliban. In the present context, the Taliban government in Kabul will undoubtedly act in Pakistan's interest; Pakistan could return the favour by utilizing its soft power to invoke international acceptance of a Taliban regime in Afghanistan. 

Fourth, Pakistan's economic interests in Afghanistan. Pakistan hosts millions of Afghan refugees on its soil at a huge economic cost. In recent years, Islamabad has also developed new economic and energy interests in Afghanistan with the construction work on the Central Asia - South Asia Regional Trade and Transmission Project (CASA-1000). The CASA-1000 project is a 1,270km power transmission line that is expected to export excess hydropower generated in Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan to Pakistan through Afghanistan. 

What does it mean?
The return of the Taliban can have both good and bad implications on Pakistan. Pakistan may feel better with the exit of the US and the likely decline in the Indian presence in Afghanistan. Pakistan may also feel better with a friendly regime in Kabul, which has been one of its primary interests in Afghanistan. However, there are dangers as well for Pakistan. What lessons will the Tehreek-e-Taliban (TTP) and other extremist groups in Pakistan learn from the success of the Taliban?